Cognitions Counseling offers Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Healing Trauma with CBT, EMDR & Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Expert trauma therapy in Fort Mill, SC and, if appropriate, online via telehealth.
"If you've met one person with symptoms of traumatic stress, you've met one person with symptoms of traumatic stress."
How is the brain affected following a traumatic experience?
After a person experiences something that lies outside their ability to cope (a near-death experience, or they saw something or heard about something that happened) their brain gets locked in "survival mode." Basically, this changes how their body and memories work. First, an important component of their brain called the Amygdala, which functions like an alarm to warn one of danger; does so by flooding the body with adrenaline to prepare to fight or run away. This alarm is so overwhelming to a person that it shuts down their brain's rational thinking center, the Prefrontal Cortex- basically the CEO of the brain and disrupts the the hippocampus, the brain's Main File Clerk. Instead of filing the memory away neatly like a normal, dated story, a brain that has experienced a traumatic event files the traumatic memory as messy, scattered fragments of sights, sounds, and smells. Because the memory was never properly filed away as "in the past," whenever that individual might see or hear something that is a reminder of the event, their brain misinterprets it as a threat, ringing the alarm and causing your body to physically relive the danger all over again.
Car, Home, or Other Accidents
Victims of Violent or Other Crime
Vicarious or Secondary Trauma
You walked Away From The Car Accident weeks, months and maybe years ago, but you...
still have nightmares
don't like talking about it
get anxious when you ride in or drive a car
avoid passing the scene of where the accident happened
have thoughts about what happened, even when you don't want to
struggle with being on edge when in a car or other situations
feel intense guilt or shame regardless of whether it was your fault
have been told "you've not been yourself" since the accident
Maybe it's time to put the accident where it belongs:
in your review mirror.
Step One:
(it's free and only takes 15 minutes. We'll decide if your needs and my skills are a good fit.
Step Two
Partner with Patrick. The first session we'll talk about what's been different for you since the accident.
Step Three
Make a plan. Together, we'll use your strengths decide on the best treatment type, session frequency, and agree to a date on which you're likely to be feeling like yourself again.
Step Four
Getting ready for therapy. We will make sure you understand the ins and outs of how the brain responds after a traumatic experience, how the treatment helps your brain settle into a more acceptable state of alert, and develop some helpful ways to work through the initial stage of therapy to keep you on the path of healing.
Step Five
Begin active therapy work to reduce the symptoms that have been making things difficult for you since the accident. Depending on the treatment, some folks report improvements of symptoms in as few as one to two sessions.
Step Six
Assess, assess, assess. Together we'll decide on whether the interventions we have chosen are helping, hurting, or not making a change either way. We will discuss possible changes or whether the improvements are enough for you to say "I think we succeeded."
Patrick is trained in the following types of therapies for trauma-related issues:
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Prolonged Exposure
Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART)
Trauma Therapy for Veterans, ER Nurses, and First Responders, in
Fort Mill, SC
Estimates indicate that that one of every five Emergency Room Nurses in Canada and the USA met PTSD diagnostic criteria.
Overall rates for first responders are roughly three times higher than the general population, though rates vary by exact profession due to the different types of trauma experienced.
Individuals in high-stress fields—such as veterans, first responders, and emergency room nurses—routinely shoulder the burden of occupational trauma. Over time, constant exposure to violence, loss, and critical injury can have a cumulative effect, often resulting in debilitating symptoms like chronic hypervigilance, emotional detachment, and recurring flashbacks.
According to the US Department of veterans Affairs, of those OEF/OIF Veterans seeking care at VA care centers, nearly 1 in 4 reports symptoms consistent with PTSD.
High-stress careers often lead to a spectrum of occupational distress, such as hypervigilance, detachment, or sleep issues. You do not need a formal diagnosis to justify seeking support. Working with a licensed therapist offers a structured, goal-directed way to address these symptoms and return to feeling like yourself.
Trauma Treatment offered by
Cognitions Counseling in Fort Mill, SC.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) primarily benefits individuals suffering from PTSD and trauma-related distress by facilitating the brain's natural ability to process and "digest" traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements—to lower the emotional intensity of distressing memories while helping the patient develop adaptive, self-affirming beliefs. Upon completion, clients typically experience a profound reduction in physiological arousal and emotional triggers, leading to decreased PTSD symptoms and a restored capacity to navigate life without being overwhelmed by the past.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) benefits individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress by teaching them to identify and challenge "stuck points"—irrational beliefs like self-blame or fear—that maintain their trauma. By restructuring these distorted thoughts, participants achieve a more balanced understanding of their experiences. Successful completion typically leads to significantly reduced symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, resulting in improved emotional regulation and a restored ability to engage fully in daily life.
ART® is a brief, structured form of psychotherapy that helps people process distressing memories and symptoms by changing how those memories are stored in the brain. ART® removes triggers by erasing negative images from view. ART® uses guided eye movements and visualization techniques to reduce emotional and physical reactions to past experiences while allowing you to stay fully in control. Many clients report significant relief in just a few sessions. Trauma and many other issues can often be resolved in just one session.
